Page 96 of Poison Vows

The crystal tumbler of whiskey in his hand cracks.

Danger!

I immediately back away.

“Uh, if you would excuse me—” I turn around as quickly as possible, ready to bolt out of the room, but I almost bump into Vaughn.

“Hey, is everything all right?” he questions, holding both my arms, but looking over my shoulder.

“Uh, yeah,” I splutter. “I’m just a little nervous.”

“Uncle, did you—” Vaughn starts, but Giovanni cuts him off, coming round to face Vaughn, but pointing at me.

“Da dove viene questa ragazza, Vaughn? Dimmelo subito!”Giovanni seethes in a low voice. Vaughn’s eyebrows jump up.

“Zio, di cosa stai parlando?”Vaughn replies.

I don’t understand what they’re saying, but I have a pretty good idea.

“Where is she from?” Giovanni seethes.

“She grew up in Westbrook Blues,” Vaughn answers, with a forced, tight smile on his face, but this seems to be the wrong response because Giovanni’s face completely clouds in anger, his eyes shifting to glare at me.

“No! It can’t be!” Giovanni spits, as if demented. “No, I won’t allow it!”

“Uncle, what are y?—”

But Vaughn doesn’t get to finish asking because right then, the huge double doors at the north end of the huge room open and everyone’s eyes swing in that direction.

A stilted silence falls over the room, as if everyone is expecting to see someone specific.

When my eyes adjust, I spot Vaughn’s grandfather being pushed in by a familiar-looking person.

Scarlet!

A wave of relief washes over me when I see her. Maybe she’ll tell me more about what’s happening.

Beside them is Senator Hughes’s father. Obviously they’d been talking quietly somewhere.

“Looks like everyone’s here,” Emmett’s grandfather says, then he looks around the room until his gaze rests on me. “Child, it’s good to see you again. Come here.”

Fear, hot and furious, rushes through me when my gaze meets this old man’s sharp, piercing gaze.

It’s as if he’s seeing beyond me, but I’m helpless to resist, so I walk forward, Vaughn by my side.

“It’s Ivy Marie, right?” he asks gently, when I get closer, still studying me.

“Yes, sir,” I mutter, barely shocked that he knows my second name. “It’s good to see you again.”

“Oh no. You can call me Armando or Grandpa Armando or just Grandpa like this one,” he says, gesturing to Scar who stands behind him.

From the corner of my eye, I notice Vaughn stare at his grandfather in slight shock that he masks away almost instantly.

Ignoring him, I quickly look at Scarlet and she nods imperceptibly. Her expression doesn’t change, as if we’re strangers.

Looks like everyone is putting on a show tonight.

“Grandpa Armando?” I mutter awkwardly.

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